Buick Enclave: Interior Care
To help prevent dirt particle abrasions, clean the vehicle's interior on a regular basis. Dust, sand, grit, and small debris can act like fine abrasive material when they are rubbed across trim, upholstery, leather, plastic, or painted interior surfaces.
Remove spills and soil as soon as possible. The longer a stain remains on the surface, the harder it may be to clean without leaving a mark. Materials such as newspaper ink, denim dye, dark garments, and colored fabrics can transfer color to home furniture, and they can also permanently stain the vehicle's interior.
In the Buick Enclave, careful interior care helps preserve the appearance of the seats, dashboard, door panels, console, carpets, and trim. A clean cabin also makes it easier to notice wear, loose trim, moisture, odors, or damage before they become more difficult to correct.
Use a soft bristle brush to remove dust from knobs, seams, buttons, vents, and crevices on the instrument cluster. For areas that collect hand oils, fingerprints, or fine dust, use light pressure and work slowly rather than scrubbing aggressively.
Using a mild soap solution, immediately remove hand lotions, sunscreen, and insect repellant from all interior surfaces or permanent damage may result. These products can contain chemicals that soften, stain, discolor, or change the texture of plastics, vinyl, leather, and painted trim.
Your dealer may have products for cleaning the interior. Use cleaners specifically designed for the surfaces being cleaned to help prevent permanent damage.
To prevent overspray, apply all cleaners directly to the cleaning cloth. Cleaners should be removed quickly. Never allow cleaners to remain on the surface being cleaned for extended periods of time.
Spraying cleaner directly onto the dashboard, switches, display areas, or door panels can allow liquid to run into seams or electrical openings. A damp cloth gives better control and reduces the chance of streaking or hidden moisture.
Cleaners may contain solvents that can become concentrated in the interior. Before using cleaners, read and follow all safety instructions on the label. While cleaning the interior, maintain adequate ventilation by opening the doors and windows.
Good ventilation is especially useful when cleaning carpets, upholstery, or plastic trim because cleaner vapors can collect inside a closed vehicle. Allow cleaned areas to dry naturally before closing the vehicle for a long period.
To prevent damage, do not clean the interior using the following cleaners or techniques:
► Never use a razor or any other sharp object to remove a soil from any interior surface.
► Never use a brush with stiff bristles.
► Never rub any surface aggressively or with excessive pressure.
► Do not use laundry detergents or dishwashing soaps with degreasers. For liquid cleaners, use approximately 20 drops per 3.78L (1 gal) of water.
► A concentrated soap solution will leave a residue that creates streaks and attracts dirt. Do not use solutions that contain strong or caustic soap.
► Do not heavily saturate the upholstery when cleaning.
► Do not use solvents or cleaners containing solvents.
When cleaning the Buick Enclave interior, gentle technique matters as much as the cleaner itself. A mild solution, a clean cloth, and repeated light passes are safer than one hard scrub that can damage the surface or push soil deeper into the material.
Interior Glass
To clean interior glass, use a terry cloth fabric dampened with water. Wipe droplets left behind with a clean dry cloth.
Commercial glass cleaners may be used, if necessary, after cleaning the interior glass with plain water.
Start with water first because it removes light haze and dust without leaving chemical residue. If a glass cleaner is needed, apply it to the cloth rather than spraying it heavily near the instrument panel, headliner, or rear window trim.
Notice: To prevent scratching, never use abrasive cleaners on automotive glass. Abrasive cleaners or aggressive cleaning may damage the rear window defogger.
The rear window defogger lines are delicate. Clean the rear glass gently and avoid scraping, hard rubbing, or using sharp tools near the grid lines. A soft cloth and patient cleaning are safer than aggressive pressure.
Fabric/Carpet
Start by vacuuming the surface using a soft brush attachment.
If a rotating brush attachment is being used during vacuuming, only use it on the floor carpet.
Vacuuming first removes loose dirt that could otherwise be rubbed into the fabric during cleaning. Pay attention to seat seams, carpet edges, the area around the pedals, cargo floor corners, and the spaces beside the center console.
Before cleaning, gently remove as much of the soil as possible using one of the following techniques:
► Gently blot liquids with a paper towel. Continue blotting until no more soil can be removed.
► For solid soils, remove as much as possible prior to vacuuming.
Do not rub a fresh spill across the fabric. Blotting lifts liquid upward, while rubbing can spread the stain and push it deeper into the fibers.
To clean:
1. Saturate a clean lint-free colorfast cloth with water or club soda. Microfiber cloth is recommended to prevent lint transfer to the fabric or carpet.
2. Remove excess moisture by gently wringing until water does not drip from the cleaning cloth.
3. Start on the outside edge of the soil and gently rub toward the center. Rotate the cleaning cloth to a clean area frequently to prevent forcing the soil into the fabric.
4. Continue gently rubbing the soiled area until there is no longer any color transfer from the soil to the cleaning cloth.
5. If the soil is not completely removed, use a mild soap solution followed only by club soda or plain water.
Work with small areas at a time. Keeping the cloth only damp, not dripping wet, helps reduce the chance of soaking the cushion or carpet backing. Excess moisture can leave rings, slow drying, or cause odor if it remains trapped.
If the soil is not completely removed, it may be necessary to use a commercial upholstery cleaner or spot lifter. Test a small hidden area for colorfastness before using a commercial upholstery cleaner or spot lifter.
A hidden test area can show whether the cleaner changes the color, texture, or sheen of the material. Wait until the test spot dries before using the product on a visible area.
If ring formation occurs, clean the entire fabric or carpet.
Following the cleaning process, a paper towel can be used to blot excess moisture.
After cleaning, allow the fabric or carpet to dry with the doors open when possible. Do not place mats, cargo, or seat covers back over damp material until the surface has dried.
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic Surfaces
Use a soft microfiber cloth dampened with water to remove dust and loose dirt. For a more thorough cleaning, use a soft microfiber cloth dampened with a mild soap solution.
Wipe gently across the instrument panel, console, door trim, cupholder areas, and other plastic surfaces. Turn the cloth often so dust and grit are not dragged repeatedly across the same area.
Notice: Soaking or saturating leather, especially perforated leather, as well as other interior surfaces, may cause permanent damage. Wipe excess moisture from these surfaces after cleaning and allow them to dry naturally. Never use heat, steam, spot lifters or spot removers.
Do not use cleaners that contain silicone or wax-based products.
Cleaners containing these solvents can permanently change the appearance and feel of leather or soft trim and are not recommended.
Perforated leather and soft-touch trim need a controlled amount of moisture. Liquid can enter perforations, seams, stitching, and trim edges, where it may dry slowly or affect the material beneath the surface.
Do not use cleaners that increase gloss, especially on the instrument panel. Reflected glare can decrease visibility through the windshield under certain conditions.
A low-gloss, clean surface is better for the driver because it reduces reflections on the windshield. The Buick Enclave instrument panel should look clean and natural, not shiny or oily.
Notice: Use of air fresheners may cause permanent damage to plastics and painted surfaces.
If an air freshener comes in contact with any plastic or painted surface in the vehicle, blot immediately and clean with a soft cloth dampened with a mild soap solution. Damage caused by air fresheners would not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Hanging, clipped, or spilled air fresheners can leak concentrated chemicals onto trim. Keep them away from painted interior pieces, plastic panels, vents, displays, and control surfaces. If contact occurs, blot first rather than spreading the liquid over a larger area.
Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
Safety belts should move freely, retract properly, and remain free of sticky residue. If a belt becomes dirty, clean only the webbing with mild soap and lukewarm water, then let it dry completely before allowing it to retract fully.
WARNING
Do not bleach or dye safety belts.
It may severely weaken them.
In a crash, they might not be able to provide adequate protection.
Clean safety belts only with mild soap and lukewarm water.
Bleach, dye, strong detergents, and solvents can weaken the belt fibers or change how the webbing performs in a crash. For the Buick Enclave, safety belt cleaning should remain simple: mild soap, lukewarm water, gentle wiping, and full drying before use.
